PESHAWAR: The forest department has launched physical combat training for effectively countering the arms wielding timber mafia in the province.

“Under the initiative, the first batch of around 300 forest guards are learning physical combat skills for preventing timber mafia, who mostly carried lethal arms for their protection,” Tariq Shah, Commandant Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest School, Abbotabad, said.

Talking to this news agency here on Monday, he said the forest department was already imparting physical training to its guards. “However, need for combat training is felt amid intensity in armed attacks by timber mafia on foresters.”

He said during the yearlong training, forest guards would be trained in the use of weapons and self-protection in case of exchange of fire with timber mafia.

He said during the training, commando skills would also be imparted to forest guards for making them an effective forest protecting force.

He expressed the hope that the proper combat training and equipping of forest guards with weapons would send a strong message to timber mafia and help in protection of forests.

It merits an insertion here that according to Global Forest Watch, around 11,000 acres of tree cover has been lost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 2001 to 2022.

Amidst all this, officials and citizens have been reporting huge stocks of illegally cut timber stored at different locations in the province, while seeking anonymity because of reprisals from strong timber mafia.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2024